Trunk-tray



(No Model.)

J. PROUSNITZER.

TRUNK TRAY.

No. 310,222. Patented Jan. 6, 1885.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. JULIUS PBOUSNITZER, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

TRUNK-TRAY.

SPECIFICATION forming part. of Letters Patent No. 310,222, dated January 6. 1885.

Application tiled September 10, 1894.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that LJULIUS PRoUsNrrZER,

a citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding at Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, have invented cer tain new and useful Improvements in Trunk- Trays, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specication, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The object of my invention is the holding of the contents of a partially-iilled trunk, chest, or other receptacle in place, preventing movement of the same, such as would be likely to occur during transportation and the chances of travel. This I accomplish by means of a tray to which are attached a number ofsprings, which may be spiral or of any suitable and efficient form. These springs are usually on the under side, and connect the tray with a thin iiat board which is capable of being brought by compression of the springs into a recess nnder the tray, as will be described. The springs,

v however, may be used on the top of the tray,

that the device may work or press downward or upward in a trunk, as may be preferred.

Figure 1 shows the tray when ready for use. Fig. 2 shows the same when the thin board above mentioned is not in use. Fig. 3 is a form of lever which may be employed, the handle of such lever being at a right angle, with the portion extended beyond the pivot or fulcrum. Fig. 4 is a vertical section of tray, showing recess and the thin board when brought within it by compressing the springs.

In the drawings, A is the tray.

B B B B are the springs.

Gis the thin board, by the pressure of which,

(No model.)

when in use, and actuated by the springs B B B B, the contents of the trunk or chest are kept in pla-ce.

D is an eccentric or crooked lever,operating by means of its fulcrum E and lever I. This eccentric lever is connected by means of a strap or cord, F, to a fastening, G. The ob- `ject of this device is to force the thin board C into the recess K under the tray by pulling over the lever, and so compressing the springs B B B B. This is to be done when the board C is not in use, and which, thus brought into the recess K, occupies but very little space when the trunk is iilled and my invention is not needed.

H is a hook of a suitable form, which engages with the lever I when the board C is drawn lip-under the tray A.

No special construction of trunk or chest is necessary, since the tray A, with its devices, can be so constructed as to lit any trunk or chest of the usual forms.

The tray A is fastened to the trunk by means ot' any appropriate hooks or other fastenings, and is thus enabled to withstand the pressure exerted by the contents of the trunk or chest and the springs.

I claim- In combination, the tray A, with its recess K, the board G, the springs B B B B, the eccentric lever D I, the cord or strap F, and the hook H, all substantially as described, and operating in the manner set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. J ULIUS PBOUSNITZER. Witnesses:

LYr'roN TAYLOR,

P. BRANNAN. 

